Kawasaki Concours Forum
Riding => Rides and Stories => Topic started by: Tele130 on August 28, 2012, 06:28:14 PM
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On Saturday, September 22nd a buddy and I are going to embark on our first Iron Butt ride around Lake Michigan. The plan is to depart the Milwaukee Metro area around 12:30am. Run the super slab (through Chicago around 1:30am) during the night time hours and once day breaks we'll hit the back two lane country highways up and over the upper UP and down into Wisconsin.
Of course, anyone in the area is more than welcome to join in on the fun. ;D. Once I get home from work tonight I'll post up a list of my gear.
I wanted to hear from the collective here for suggestions, ideas or what ever you might want to add.
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;D
If you get up around Traverse City and need anything give me a call
and I will see if I can help.
I am in the membership book.
rwulf
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If it were only not so flat and boring, I would consider this. ;) By the way have fun and be safe!
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If it were only not so flat and boring, I would consider this. ;) By the way have fun and be safe!
I'm hoping that once we get into the upper reaches of Michigan, cross over into the UP and down through the woodlands of Northern Wisconsin it will be far from boring.
The boring part will happen during the night time hours. At least that's the way we're planning it :o.
We'll do our best, Thanks! ;D
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;D
If you get up around Traverse City and need anything give me a call
and I will see if I can help.
I am in the membership book.
rwulf
I'm not sure of the route we're going to take. (going to get together and hash it out over lunch next week). If we're close and need a quick pitstop is it ok to call?
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Riding gear will consist of:
A Nolan N-103 Modular helmet
Olympia Phantom One................(one piece) waterproof Riding Suit/with liner. Hy-Vis Yellow!
Compression "Base Gear"
four pairs of gloves
Waterproof Riding Boots
Rapid Transit Recon 19 tank bag and hydration bladder with ice water.
Air compressor
Tire repair kit
Overboard Tool Kit ;)
cell phone and charger
Ibuprofen
a couple three bananas, a cut up apple and Granola bars...........I can eat these while underway with the Nolan
Ear plugs
Ear buds, iPod and remote
"V2 Sponge"...cleans bugs off your face shield faster than anything I've ever used.
If I'm off base with any of this stuff let me know. Never having done this before I'm not sure what to expect.(cept for dragging my sorry tired backside into bed Sunday morning......early ;D.
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Now I've never tried one, but a few friends have.. How about a couple of those 5 Hr Energy shots? Just in case?
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Now I've never tried one, but a few friends have.. How about a couple of those 5 Hr Energy shots? Just in case?
I have and I will tell you there will be four of them (extras in case one of my ride buddies is having a hard time) in my tank bag along with a couple of these.
http://www.amazon.com/Pack-Performance-Energy-Drink-Bottle/dp/B0029TEDR6/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1346216169&sr=8-6&keywords=NOS+energy+Drink (http://www.amazon.com/Pack-Performance-Energy-Drink-Bottle/dp/B0029TEDR6/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1346216169&sr=8-6&keywords=NOS+energy+Drink)
Smart idea? I doubt it. Recipe for failure? More than likely. I figure I'll have the room since I don't need to pack rain gear or cold weather gear. What the heck. :)
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:)
If needed give me a call 1-231-620-4825.
I am about a mile and half off what I would expect your
route to be.
May even be able help you across the UP
Richard
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Just too many deer roaming at night and early morning, riding then just scares the hell outta me. :yikes:
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Just too many deer roaming at night and early morning, riding then just scares the hell outta me. :yikes:
Oh yea, me too. Especially in late September :yikes: :loco:
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:)
If needed give me a call 1-231-620-4825.
I am about a mile and half off what I would expect your
route to be.
May even be able help you across the UP
Richard
Thanks Richard. Got your # programed. :thumbs: :chugbeer:
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Route suggestion--- Hiway 31 to Muskegon take Apple road exit to Hiway 37 ( nice 2 lane to Traverse City) then back on 31 to the "BIG" Bridge. Taking any 2 lane before Muskegon will take you to alot lot of little towns and make for slow going. Hiway 37 has a few small towns but you are thru them in 5 minutes with "maybe" one stop light.
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Route suggestion--- Hiway 31 to Muskegon take Apple road exit to Hiway 37 ( nice 2 lane to Traverse City) then back on 31 to the "BIG" Bridge. Taking any 2 lane before Muskegon will take you to alot lot of little towns and make for slow going. Hiway 37 has a few small towns but you are thru them in 5 minutes with "maybe" one stop light.
Another rte. "(might) be faster" Take Hiway 31 to Ludington, go east on hiway 10 to 37 then north to Traverse City.
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We're having lunch this Thursday and we'll work out the route then. Thanks for the suggestions.
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Let me know what route you choose. If it's close I'll join you for a couple of hrs.
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Let me know what route you choose. If it's close I'll join you for a couple of hrs.
Roger that! ;). Would be great to meet ya. :thumbs:
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Riding gear will consist of:
A Nolan N-103 Modular helmet
Olympia Phantom One................(one piece) waterproof Riding Suit/with liner. Hy-Vis Yellow!
Compression "Base Gear"
four pairs of gloves
Waterproof Riding Boots
Rapid Transit Recon 19 tank bag and hydration bladder with ice water.
Air compressor
Tire repair kit
Overboard Tool Kit ;)
cell phone and charger
Ibuprofen
a couple three bananas, a cut up apple and Granola bars...........I can eat these while underway with the Nolan
Ear plugs
Ear buds, iPod and remote
"V2 Sponge"...cleans bugs off your face shield faster than anything I've ever used.
If I'm off base with any of this stuff let me know. Never having done this before I'm not sure what to expect.(cept for dragging my sorry tired backside into bed Sunday morning......early ;D.
I like your menu, your smart to only pack healthy food and water. Have a great trip and let us know how you did!!
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I just did one from Minneapolis to Laramie WY. I left at 7 am and drove mostly freeways or 2 lane state highways and finished up at 11 pm. The last 300 or so miles were tough because it was dark, cold and I couldn't find a gas station so I ended up going 177 miles without stopping. In my experience you should be on a freeway or some other "easy" road at that point. I then checked into a motel and did another 500 miles to Wendover UT the next day to get my Bun Burner Gold. The extra 500 miles was easy in comparison to the Saddle Sore. Also remember the more people you add to the list the longer your stops get, and it's exponential. I went by myself. I averaged about 64 mph and didn't drive all that fast on the road, but limited my stops to a quick bottle of water and/or Monster and something quick to eat.
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Thanks for the post. Our last leg will be coming down through Green Bay (Hwy 41 & I-43 south).......interstate cruising. Our plan is to leave at 2:30am, get through Chicago around 4:00am . Sunrise should be around 6:25ish so a majority of the ride will be during "Day light" hours.
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I had one of these planned for tomorrow but then called it off because it was calling for rain. Dropped the bike to the dealer for the 15K service and made other plans. Now they are calling for 70 and sunny all the way around the lake. >:(
My route would have me leaving Grand Rapids at 5am (maybe a little before) going north then west thru the UP, south thru WI and back east/north to GR.
Would be running slap in the dark hours and two lane in the daylight. The deer are starting to move here so north it's going to be even worse. I figure I could make the run in about 18 hours putting me home by around 10pm. That would only be about 4 hours of night riding, two in the start and two at the end and those would be all slab.
I would try to join up with you for part of it but the wife and I will be doing a 4 day tour of the north lower MI on our bikes. I'll be running some of the same roads it sounds like you will be. I'll keep an eye out for you.
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I had one of these planned for tomorrow but then called it off because it was calling for rain. Dropped the bike to the dealer for the 15K service and made other plans. Now they are calling for 70 and sunny all the way around the lake. >:(
My route would have me leaving Grand Rapids at 5am (maybe a little before) going north then west thru the UP, south thru WI and back east/north to GR.
Would be running slap in the dark hours and two lane in the daylight. The deer are starting to move here so north it's going to be even worse. I figure I could make the run in about 18 hours putting me home by around 10pm. That would only be about 4 hours of night riding, two in the start and two at the end and those would be all slab.
I would try to join up with you for part of it but the wife and I will be doing a 4 day tour of the north lower MI on our bikes. I'll be running some of the same roads it sounds like you will be. I'll keep an eye out for you.
Sounds good. We're leaving Cedarburg Wisconsin at 2:30 am Saturday morning heading south. We're doing the same thing, run the slabs during the dark hours and the two lane hwy's during the daylight. I'll post our route as soon as I have it.
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Well the Weather Forecast has gotten worse, not better over the last three days. From 30% chance of rain to 50% and High temps from 65-69 to 59-54.
I don't mind the Rain. And I don't mind the Cold. But the two of them together for a "FUN RIDE" is not my idea of fun :o. Seriously considering Bowing out of this one. I want it to be fun, not miserable.
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Sissy 8) 8)
How are we going to get a good ride report if'n you dont ride in the rain and cold pavement? Come on Doug; take one for the team :P
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Sissy 8) 8)
How are we going to get a good ride report if'n you dont ride in the rain and cold pavement? Come on Doug; take one for the team :P
Yep. That's me.
Tires are scheduled for installation tomorrow.........hopefully. Take one for the team? Only if there's large sums of cash involved. ;)
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I was in Duluth MN Sat. and was planning to spend about 3 days in the U.P Saw the weather report for this week. "A HIGH temp of 50 and a low of 38 to 40 AND rain!!! Not fun! I was home by Sun evening. Not really a good way to spend a vacation ride.
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OK. Made it safe and sound. Cold wet and windy. 17 hours, 22 min wheel turning time, 2 hours, 50 min of stopped time. Couldn't get the new Shinko's installed before the trip so I had to make do with the "GT's". As expected, they didn't let me down ;D.
Still warming up and sleeping. I'll fill in the details later tomorrow. Thanks guys.
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Excellent!
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well done Tele
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I have a little bit of paperwork to finish up and then send it in to make it "Official"!!! I'm really glad I did it. It was one of those "Bucket List" things. Will I do it again? Very, very, very, very, very (gota make sure I get enough VERY's in there :rotflmao:) doubtful!!!!!!!!!.
I will say that my Connie performed flawlessly. My knees and elbows were the only body parts getting sore at the end of the ride. Woke up this morning feeling great. My buddy rode his 2010-11 (not sure which year) BMW R1200RT.........sweet bike! It really was a very memorable ride. ;)
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:)Good on ya, or how ever they say it.
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Good to hear you got your ride in. I think a heated jacket liner and gloves + rain gear would be a must for me. I don't do well in the cold,wet stuff anymore! I LIKE heat!! :thumbs: :thumbs:
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I'm really glad I did it. It was one of those "Bucket List" things.
It really was a very memorable ride. ;)
Pictures?
Well done, my friend. Well done.
:chugbeer:
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Pictures?
Well done, my friend. Well done.
:chugbeer:
Sorry. We never thought about taking pictures until we got home. Since it was our "First IB Ride" we were just focused on being safe and making our time. However, we have THREE more "Great Lake" IB ride to do. Next summer is Lake Superior--June 22nd 2013........the longest day of the year, (daylight wise ;)). I may be using the video camera portion of my iPhone for the next ride.
Anyone is more than welcome to join us :thumbs:.
Thanks :chugbeer:
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Good to hear you got your ride in. I think a heated jacket liner and gloves + rain gear would be a must for me. I don't do well in the cold,wet stuff anymore! I LIKE heat!! :thumbs: :thumbs:
I wore my Olympia Phantom One suit. High Vis-Yellow, water proof and a full quilted liner. I also wore a second quilted jacket liner under my suit. By "Base Gear" is from FirstGear. It's a spandex type material that's fleece lined. Insulated leather winter gloves and my Nolan N-103 helmet, Boots are Gaerne (Italian made tour boot) that are insulated and water proof. I was pretty comfy. I felt cold at the end of the ride mostly because I was tired. I do have an older Widder heated vest with the 7 position heat troller on it. I just can't find the two pronged female connector on-line to hook it up. Otherwise I would have used it for sure! ;D
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I just found and ordered the battery cord for my Widder heated vest. You'll never guess who has it.........................................................."The IBA (Iron Butt Association)Store" of all places.......... ::). Now I find it :rotflmao:.